Both are good. If the Crisp is the Maris Otter Pale Ale, that is my favorite MO. Golden Promise makes for a great bitter with a fair amount of hops. Timothy Taylor Landlord is said to be all Golden Promise, and it has won many awards in the UK.

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Jeff RankertAnn Arbor Brewers Guild, AHA Member, BJCP CertifiedHome-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Also found out another lhbs that I haven't been to before sells Hugh Baird MO (the Crisp pale at more beer is a blend of some sort). Based on price and convenience, I think I may check out the Hugh Baird MO.

I'm on the end of my third Golden Promise and think it's great. All I'll use if it's available. My Bitters and Brown ales have rocked.

The LHBS claimed it is the same as Maris Otter. I'm skeptical.

You should be skeptical. Both are British barley cultivars that are malted and kilned to British Pale ale standards. Then it can get a little different. Maris Otter is usually described as bready, slightly nutty. Color can be up to 3.5 to 4.5 L range for Crisp MO. Golden Promise has a clean flavor with some residual sweetness, and has a color of 1.7-2 L for the Simpsons.

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Jeff RankertAnn Arbor Brewers Guild, AHA Member, BJCP CertifiedHome-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Both are good quality malts, but they are different. Pale malts with different barley or different maltsters will be different. All will make great beer when used properly. I prefer MO as the base in most of my beers because I like the character it brings. I have used Golden Promise with great results as well.

Ivve used MO many times before, but I recently moved, and the LHBSs here in the east bay carry different malts and fewer varieties of hops than the place I used to frequent in Portland. I believe I used to use TF MO before, but I will give Baird a try, since that shop is more convenient for me to get to than more beer, which is a PITA to drive to. My preference is actually Optic, fwiw, but I have only ever had that mail ordered.

Looks like I will be using Baird crystal in this one, too - I have only used Simpsons and TF.